28: I love fishing enforcement.

As the front lines grew longer, all parties' funds began to run short. All units started to rack their brains to open up new sources of income.

At this moment, the Ke Qin Independent Army, whose main force was closest to the Sanu Mountain Area, finally shifted its attention slightly from the battlefield and remembered the mining area they had recently scouted.

Sanu Mountain Area, Ke Qin Independent Army Third Regiment, First Company Secret Command Post.

So Tu, the Company Commander of the Ke Qin Independent Army, was staring at the map on the table, his face grim. The map marked the specific location of the Titan mining area and their transportation routes.

"Titan Corporation... What exactly is their background?" So Tu asked in a low voice.

The adjutant standing beside him shook his head: "Unclear, but their operations are extremely efficient. The Four Great Families were almost swallowed up by them overnight. Sanu Town also seems to be under their control. By the time our people discovered the problem, Titan's engineering team had already gone to the surrounding villages to dig wells."

So Tu's finger heavily tapped the map: "Those minor matters aren't important. What's important is that they are now mining rare earths on our territory without even greeting us!"

The adjutant hesitated for a moment, then whispered: "Company Commander, according to intelligence, Titan's armed forces are extremely powerful. It is said they possess... mechs."

"Mechs?" So Tu sneered, "Do you think this is a sci-fi movie?"

"It's true!" The adjutant quickly said, "There are witnesses who claim they saw three black mechs, over two meters tall, in the Gray Market's old street!"

So Tu was silent for a moment, then finally shook his head: "With those useless people in the old street, they'd think an airplane flying overhead was an alien. This Titan is, at most, better equipped. A black bulletproof vest and a mask and protective gear—that's probably what those ruffians call a mech. This is currently our Kachin Army's territory! If they want to mine here, they must give us a share!"

The adjutant swallowed: "Company Commander, you mean..."

"Order the reconnaissance squad to scout out the situation," So Tu said coldly, "Also, report the situation to the Commander."

Time returns to the present, Ke Qin Independent Army Frontline Command Post.

En La Ang sat on a wooden chair, his long-gloomy face showing a rare hint of joy. Recently, the entire Northern Mountains had turned into a chaotic mess, and with the sound of cannons, his treasury was almost empty.

Then, his beloved general brought good news: "Titan's rare earth mine can be raided."

"General, according to So Tu's report, Titan's mining area defense is very strict, but not impenetrable," the staff officer pointed to several spots on the map, "Their patrol teams have fixed time gaps, and the western mountain forest terrain is complex. We can infiltrate from there."

En La Ang narrowed his eyes: "Are you sure they haven't discovered our people?"

"Absolutely not," the staff officer said confidently, "Our people even reached the outer wall of the mining area; their surveillance has blind spots."

En La Ang sneered: "Indeed, no matter how rich these merchants are, they can't defend against true soldiers."

He turned to look at Suo Qin, his strongest general, who was standing nearby.

"What do you think?"

Suo Qin was smoking, his eyes dark: "The rare earths and gold Titan has shipped out these past few days are worth at least several hundred million. If we can seize the mining area, we'll not only get the money but also force them to negotiate and share a piece of the pie."

En La Ang nodded: "Then let's do it."

He stood up and ordered the messenger:

"Assemble two reinforced companies; the operation is tonight."

Titan Mining Area, late night.

The mining area's lights were exceptionally bright in the dark night. The workers had long since left, leaving only the patrolling security personnel.

Under the cover of night, the soldiers of the Ke Qin Independent Army silently approached the western wall of the mining area. The commanding officer gestured, and several soldiers quickly set up climbing ropes and scaled the wall.

Everything went incredibly smoothly.

No alarms, no snipers, not even a patrol team appeared.

"Too easy..." A faint unease stirred in the officer's heart, but the arrow was on the string, and he had no choice but to let it fly. He whispered an order: "According to the plan, control the core of the mining area and hold the management hostage."

The soldiers dispersed, rapidly approaching the command center in the middle of the mining area.

However, just as they were fifty meters from their target—

"Bang!"

A muffled explosion rang out, and the foremost soldiers were instantly thrown to the ground. Immediately after, all the lights in the mining area suddenly went out, replaced by dazzling red alarm lights.

"It's a trap! Retreat!" the officer shouted.

But it was too late.

The mining area's walls suddenly glowed with an eerie blue light; the high-voltage electric fence activated, trapping everyone inside.

"Welcome to Titan Group Mine No. 1."

A lazy female voice came from all directions.

"Unfortunately, your intrusion has been recorded. According to the Interstellar Peace Corporation's Security Regulations, you will be considered hostile forces and eliminated."

The officer's face turned pale: "Interstellar Peace Corporation? What the hell is that?!"

The next second, eight pitch-black Warrior tactical mechs slowly emerged from the shadows of the mining area. Their eyes glowed red, and the electromagnetic rifles in their hands were already charged.

Seeing these weapons, which completely surpassed their understanding, the soldiers knew it was over.

"Fire!" the officer ordered in despair.

Bullets hit the mech's outer shell, leaving no scratches.

And the mechs' response was precise bullets and artillery fire covering the enemies.

"Boom—"

The next day, Ke Qin Independent Army Command Post.

En La Ang looked at the battle report from the front line, his face ashen. All three hundred men he had sent out had lost contact after entering the Sanu Mountain Area.

"This is impossible!" he roared, smashing his teacup, "Three hundred men! Completely wiped out? How could there be no news at all?! How could this be!"

The messenger trembled as he reported: "General, our men... not a single one returned. This morning, the trees around the mining area were covered with..."

"Covered with what?!"

"Covered with their dog tags."

En La Ang's face instantly turned livid.

The adjutant trembled as he handed over a package: "Gen-General... this just arrived..."

En La Ang and Suo Qin opened the package; inside was a USB drive.

After inserting it into the computer, a scene that would haunt them forever appeared on the screen.

Over three hundred soldiers were neatly arranged in an open space, their limbs dismembered.

The only commonality was that each person had a bullet hole in their forehead, and each wore a metal tag around their neck.

The same sentence was engraved on each tag:

[This is not war, but a warning.]

At the end of the video, a figure wearing a black tactical mask slowly raised his head and spoke to the camera:

"You have two choices."

"Surrender, or... become the next example."

En La Ang's and Suo Qin's hands trembled violently.

Suo Qin suddenly stood up: "These merchants dare to be so arrogant? Do they really think we can't do anything about them?"

En La Ang gritted his teeth: "Mobilize all available units. I want Titan to know whose territory the Northern Mountains are!"

Titan Mining Area, Command Center.

Jade looked at the real-time footage from the drone. A main force of the Ke Qin Independent Army was gathering, at least three battalions strong, equipped with heavy weapons, and advancing towards the mining area.

"The fish have taken the bait," she chuckled softly, pressing her communicator: "Code name team, prepare to cast the net."

Northern Mountains, ambush point.

The Ke Qin Independent Army's convoy drove along the narrow mountain road. En La Ang sat in the armored vehicle, his face grim.

Suddenly, the reconnaissance vehicle in front braked sharply.

"General! The road is blocked!"

En La Ang frowned: "What's going on?"

As he poked his head out, he saw several giant trees lying haphazardly across the mountain road ahead. A line of text was carved into their trunks:

[This road is impassable, turn back.]

"Damn it, playing tricks!" En La Ang cursed angrily, "Engineers, clear the road!"

However, just as the engineers got out of the vehicle.

"Boom!"

An electromagnetic pulse bomb exploded in the center of the convoy, instantly paralyzing all vehicle electronics.

Immediately after, countless red dots lit up in the mountain forest.

"Enemy attack!"

The soldiers frantically sought cover, but their bullets couldn't hit the black shadows moving at high speed through the forest. The enemy's return fire, however, was terrifyingly precise.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

With every shot, a soldier fell, all with headshots, and some even took a shot to both the left and right chest before falling.

En La Ang, hiding behind the armored vehicle, was drenched in cold sweat: "What kind of marksmanship is this?!"

Suddenly, a cold voice sounded behind him:

"General, the game is over."

En La Ang spun around to see a woman wearing tactical goggles standing behind him, her gun pressed against the back of his head.

"Who... who are you people?" he asked, trembling.

Ilona smiled slightly: "Titan Security Department, code name 'Titan'."

She pressed her communicator: "Target acquired, operation complete."

Unnamed mountain valley, Titan temporary headquarters, underground reception room.

Jade looked at En La Ang and Suo Qin, who were being escorted in, her smile elegant:

"Gentlemen, welcome."

En La Ang roared: "If you dare to touch me, Kachin State will never let you go!"

Jade gently shook her head: "No, you will 'die gloriously in battle'."

She turned on the display screen on the adjacent wall, which showed a video meticulously 'edited' by Bronya. The Ke Qin Independent Army 'bravely attacked' the Titan mining area, and ultimately 'unfortunately encountered an ambush by the Taang National Liberation Army', resulting in their complete annihilation.

Suo Qin's face turned pale: "You... you want us to disappear?"

En La Ang was in no better state, fear making his vocal cords tremble: "Then, why bring us here?"

Jade smiled, gesturing to a company staff member beside her to bring the pre-prepared contract before the two men who were about to die: "No special reason, just a personal habit of mine."

"After all, to bestow poison and harvest fruit. Even if it's withered fruit, the branch should bid farewell before it's picked."

The two men's faces turned ashen when they saw the contents of the contract. The soldiers guarding them forcibly controlled their hands and pressed their fingerprints onto the contract.

Then, these two once-powerful figures, who could summon wind and rain, were dragged out like dead dogs.

Jade took the contract handed to her by her assistant, glanced at it, "The Commander of the Ke Qin Independent Army has been eliminated. You can begin the next phase of the plan."

"Understood," Ains's voice came through the communicator.

Meanwhile, at the Sanu mining site, rare earth extraction accelerated further.

Topaz stood on the control tower of the mining site, watching trucks laden with rare earth ore drive out of the mining area one after another, a slight smile playing on her lips.

"Jade, the first batch of goods has already departed," she said into the communicator.

"Excellent, that way the previous futures operations won't have any problems," Jade's voice carried a hint of languor, "The transportation route has been planned. The first batch of rare earths will arrive at Jinta Port in three days, and then enter the international market through 'legal channels'."

Topaz chuckled: "I hope those buyers won't ask too many questions."

"They won't," Jade said faintly, "After all, the price we offer is very fair."

The night wind blew, carrying away the smell of blood outside the Titan mining area, and also carrying away the last shred of the Ke Qin Independent Army's courage to resist.

The next morning, the high-ranking officials of Kachin State collectively signed a cooperation agreement, recognizing Titan Corporation's mining rights and pledging not to interfere with any of Titan's actions.

After all, between the contract Titan offered and that video, they had to choose one to 'acknowledge'.

As a reward for being sensible, Titan allowed them to retain a portion of the profits from their gray industries and 'employed' their soldiers as security personnel for the mining area.

This was the last shred of dignity.